Two Central New York congressmen were among only 12 Democrats to break with the party Tuesday in a vote to rebuke the Republican who shouted "You lie!" at President Obama during his address to Congress last week.

In a mostly partisan vote of 240-179, the House of Representatives passed a resolution disapproving of the outburst of Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.

Central New York Reps. Dan Maffei, D-DeWitt, and Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, joined 167 Republicans who voted against the resolution, which the GOP dismissed as a political witch hunt.

Maffei, in a rare stray from party lines, said in a statement that he thought the debate and vote Tuesday was a waste of time.

"It does not promote civility to have a party line vote and spend an afternoon debating whether Mr. Wilson's apology for what he said during the President's address last week is 'good enough'," Maffei said.

"Clearly, Mr. Wilson thoroughly embarrassed himself," Maffei added. "And while I disagree with Mr. Wilson and I strongly support the president, I think we should be moving on and not piling on...We all agree Mr. Wilson's behavior was inappropriate; now it is time to get back to work."

Arcuri agreed with Maffei.

"Let me be clear, what Congressman Wilson did during the President's speech was absolutely out of line, but taking time to officially reprimand him was not in the best interest of my constituents," Arcuri said today.

He added, "There are far more important matters that Congress needs to be addressing at this time. We have a healthcare system that is in crisis and in need of reform, and I spent a great deal of time in August and the first part of September listening to the needs and concerns of my constituents."

Rep. John McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, did not vote. McHugh, who represents Oswego and Madison counties, is awaiting confirmation to serve as Obama's secretary of the Army.